How do you eat gluten free at McDonald’s? The answer may surprise you (2024)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For those avoiding gluten, naturally safe carbohydrates, like potatoes, quickly become a staple. But if you’re planning to grab a quick breakfast or lunch at McDonald’s beware – the French fries and hash browns are off limits.

Both menu items are flavored with “natural beef flavor”, which contains wheat derivatives. And since they’re fried in a shared fryer, that means any fried menu item is at risk of cross contamination.

So what can you eat if you’re avoiding gluten? Check out the guide below for the current McDonald’s menu items that are gluten free:

Sides

The only side that is gluten free is apple slices.

Of the sauces offered at McDonald’s, spicy buffalo, creamy ranch, honey mustard, honey, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are all gluten free.

The tangy BBQ and sweet ‘n sour sauces are not.

(Although not listed in this section, the Big Mac sauce also contains gluten.)

Sweets and treats

Shakes (chocolate, vanilla and strawberry), sundaes (hot fudge and hot caramel) and the McFlurry with M&M’s candies are all gluten free.

(There is also a McFlurry option with Oreo cookies. Those avoiding gluten for medical reasons may want to steer clear of the M&M variety as well because of the cross-contamination risk.)

McCafe Coffees

All beverages in this section are gluten free. They include: americano; regular and iced coffee; caramel and French vanilla iced coffee; regular, caramel and French vanilla cappuccino; regular and iced latte; regular and iced French vanilla latte, regular, iced and frappe mocha; regular, iced, and frappe caramel latte; and regular and iced caramel macchiato.

Beverages

All options in the beverage section are gluten free, including -- co*ke, Sprite, Fanta, Dr Pepper, Hi-C, Diet co*ke, Frozen Fanta blue raspberry, Frozen Coca-Cola classic, strawberry banana smoothie, mango pineapple smoothie, lemonade, unsweetened iced tea, sweet tea, hot tea, Minute Maid premium orange juice, Honest Kids Appley Ever, 1% low fat milk jug, reduced sugar low fat chocolate milk jug, hot chocolate and Dasani water.

Other menu sections

The breakfast, burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches and dollar menus do not have any gluten-free choices.

Does McDonald’s certify menu items as gluten free?

McDonald’s has a few disclaimers on its website stating that it doesn’t certify or promote any menu item as gluten free. While the ingredient information is available, shared cooking and preparation areas, equipment and utensils can pose risks for cross contamination.

The gluten-free guide provided in this post uses the most up-to-date information available at the time of publishing. Restaurants routinely change menu items, ingredients and recipes, so it’s always a good idea to confirm with the restaurant for the latest allergen information.

Are there any restaurants you’d like to see featured in a future installment of this guide? Let cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reporter Hannah Drown know by emailing her at [email protected].